So, this is the first time i've attempted to write anything vaguely romantic. If you have any writing tips for me, feel free to share!

Immortal Memories

Chapter 1: Insecurities

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

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"Kakashi-Sensei, open up!" Sakura kicked at Kakashi's door with her foot, because her hands were full of groceries. "Come on!"

About a century later, the door creaked open, and her sensei's expressionless face appeared.

"About time! I brought you more groceries." As if that wasn't obvious.

She knew her way around, and hurried straight to Kakashi's small kitchen. She set the load of groceries on the counter and began to rummage through them.

"So, how have you been? Your mission went well, I take it?" She realized that he hadn't said a word the whole time. He wasn't a talker, but he usually answered her questions.

She turned to look at him. He was leaning against the table, arms crossed, staring at her with something that wasn't quite a glare...But he was obviously perturbed. She sighed loudly.

"Okay, what did I do?"

"What did you do? You did the unthinkable."

"What!?"

"You...Told them that I would go to the...Party." He shivered at the last word.

"That's what this is about?" Sakura almost laughed. "It's just a party. It won't kill you.

"Yes, but it will make me feel as if my brain is being stabbed with shards of glass."

Sakura grimaced at that disgusting image. "Lighten up, Kakashi-Sensei. It's Naruto's Jonin celebration. You HAVE to go."

"He knows that i'm proud of him. I don't think going is necessary."

"You're going."

"I went to YOUR celebration. Isn't that good enough?"

"You only went because Naruto made you."

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm just returning the favor. He'll be happy if you come!"

"I HATE social gatherings."

"Yes, I know. You'd much rather sit at home and read porn."

"It's not porn, it's romance."

"There's a sex scene in every chapter. It's porn."

"It's very physical romance, but romance nonetheless."

Sakura couldn't help but smile.

She opened Kakashi's nearly empty fridge and began to set things carefully inside. "So, anyways, I already told Tsunade-Sama and Naruto that you would come."

"I can't"

"Why not? Give me one good reason why you can't."

"I hate people and I hate crowds. So I REALLY hate crowds of people."

"As opposed to what, crowds of dogs?"

"I like dogs."

Sakura sniffed the air distastefully. "Yes, I know."

"Hey, don't sniff like that! My dogs are perfectly clean."

"I'm more of a cat person myself."

"I like cats too. I had a white cat once. He was extremely fat-"

"Don't change the subject."

Kakashi ignored her and strode over to stand beside her. "You know, you don't have to bring me groceries."

Sakura said nothing.

"I'm not old, and I'm not disabled. You don't have to take care of me." Kakashichuckled. "Sometimes I think you forget that i'm not even 30."

"...You're still changing the subject." She turned to Kakashi. "It's not a huge celebration. There won't be a massive crowd of people. I think you can tough it out."

"...I suppose."

"So you'll come?"

"No."

"Why!?"

"I won't be able to wear my uniform, will I?"

"Well, no...Don't you have anything else to wear?"

"Yes. But I don't like to show my scars." Kakashi said bluntly.

"...You can still wear your gloves. Problem solved. Anything else?"

"Yes. I hate drunk people."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'll keep all the scary drunk people away from you."

"Yeah, right. You can TRY, but you'll fail. I swear, drunk people are attracted to me."

"I really doubt that-"

"I'm serious! It's like I have a huge sign on my head that says 'Drunk people: Come bother me'!"

"I'll keep all the drunk people away from you. I promise." Sakura said this, even though she was pretty sure she wouldn't be around every second to make sure no drunks puked on, hit on, or tried to kill Kakashi.

Kakashi looked at her, with an almost shy expression. "You promise?"

"I promise."

"Hm...No thanks."

"What now?!"

"Well, they'll expect me to eat."

"Oh, god forbid you consume food like a normal human being." She said sarcastically.

"I hate eating in front of people."

"That's...Really abnormal."

"I'm not abnormal."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "You know..." She turned back to the groceries. "Crazy people never know that they're crazy."

"Oh, so I'm crazy now?" Kakashi picked up an orange and rolled it in his hands absentmindedly. He sighed. "I don't like eating in front of people." He reapeated. "So I can't eat at the party."

"Well of course you can't eat at the party! Have you forgotten what the hospital told you?"

"Huh?" Kakashi's eyebrows shot up questioningly.

Sakura grinned. "You can't eat solid food for another week. Doctor's orders." She winked at him. "There's your excuse."

"Ah..." Kakashi smiled. "Very clever. Thanks."

"So, NOW you'll come?" Sakura pleaded.

Kakashi let out a long sigh, then smiled. "Yes, Sakura, i'll come."

Sakura was relieved. "Thanks, sensei, Naruto will really appreciate it."

Kakashi laughed. "Naruto couldn't care less about who shows up. Just as long as he gets his ramen..."

Her sensei had a point. "Well, thanks anyways." She glanced up at him. "But I need you to do me one more favor."

She could've sworn he almost bolted for the door.

"What is it, Sakura?" He sounded almost afraid.

Sakura scowled at him, then thrust a banana towards him. "Eat this."

"Sakura..." Kakashi cringed and looked down at the banana as if it was the most repulsive thing he had ever seen.

"PLEASE eat it?"

"I'm not hungry."

"You're never hungry."

Kakashi began to walk away.

"Fine! Then at least drink this."

Kakashi turned back around and Sakura pushed a can into his hands.

"Uh, what is it?"

"It's just a protein shake."

Kakashi sighed, opened the can, and took a swig. "Happy now?" He grimaced at the taste.

"No. But it'll do."

Sakura folded the empty grocery bags and put them in a pile. Kakashi took another drink, then smiled in an odd way. He set down the shake, then suddenly stripped off his shirt.

"Oh great!" Sakura slapped her forehead. "You spiked your stupid protein shake while I wasn't looking!"

"Ha ha. How funny." Kakashi wandered over to a closet. "I just want to see if my nice shirt still fits."

"It'll be too big if anything." Sakura muttered.

"Sorry, didn't catch that!" Kakashi called from the other room.

Sakura went over to him and watched him search through his small closet. "Well, I guess i'll be going. Thanks for agreeing to come.

"Mm hm..." Kakashi's eyes never left the closet.

"Take care of yourself. I want all that food I brought eaten by the next time I come over."

"Sakura..." He was looking at her now. "You...Don't have to come back. You don't have to bring me groceries. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don't need a baby-sitter."

"Kakashi-Sensei!" Sakura was annoyed at his rudeness. "I worry about you!"

"Wait another 40 years, THEN you can worry about me." A strange smile crossed his face, full of sorrow and bitterness. "Of course" he chuckled darkly. "I seriously doubt that I'll still be alive in 40 years."

Sakura didn't know how to respond to her sensei's morbid behavior.

"Don't-Don't say stuff like that!"

"You know it's true."

She did. She did know it was true. She wanted to say something helpful, wanted to comfort him. Instead she just said "Goodbye, sensei." And left him.

The sun was setting as she made her way home, the truth in Kakashi's words weighing heavily upon her. Why were they so different? She just couldn't understand him. Sure, everyone dies eventually. That's not a reason to distance yourself from everyone. But Kakashi didn't get that. He refused to get close to anyone, because he was afraid of losing them. Why didn't he understand that if you had memories of someone, that person would never die?